Truman students speak out against proposed budget cuts

by Louis Finley

After last year's $50 surcharge added to student bills after a mid-year budget cut, and another cut proposed for next year, student council members have been motivated to speak out. (Louis Finley/KTVO)

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. —

Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens’ proposed budget has been met with opposition from universities. What the governor calls a “common sense, conservative budget” is prompting Truman State University students to speak out.

“The decisions by the Missouri legislature impact us. So in order to confront how those issues are going to change what we pay in tuition, what fees come to us, we have to get politically involved," said Truman State Student Council President Kyra Cooper.

After last year's $50 surcharge added to student bills after a mid-year budget cut, and another cut proposed for next year, student council members have been motivated to speak out.

"I think it's really important to protect the legacy of Truman, and I think this is an issue specifically where if we don't take some kind of action, it's going to affect students in the future," Cooper said.

Students crafted a resolution they sent out to lawmakers last week.

"As the student government president and vice president, we meet pretty frequently with the administration, so we kind of understood that the implications wouldn't be great if we got another budget cut in addition to last year's budget cuts," Cooper said.

"Hard decisions have to be made. I think from our perspective supporting higher education allows many of the goals of the state to be achieved," said Truman State President Sue Thomas in an interview January.

"This is very early on in the process, right? The governor makes the recommendations, and then the senate and then the house work on their budgets, so we're talking about a process that could go as late as June 30,” Thomas said.

A date quickly approaching.

"I think the opportunities that Truman has afforded me are incredible and priceless really," said Truman State Student Council Vice President Sarah Holtmyer.